Tie plate



March l1 1924.

INVENT .f

' ATTORNEY llllll Filed Dec. 4, 1922 Patented Mar. 1l, 1924.

, JOSEPH A. WALSH ANDJAMES E. KENNEDY, orl rrrnrsisurteis; PENNSYLVANIA; JAMES s J. wnLsnjEXfEeUToEor 11.1113;"salto.'Iesa'zrrl a; WALSE, nEoEasE'n.`

Application tiled December 4, 1922. Serial No. 604,698;

To all whom it mag/concern.' Y

Fe it known that "we, JOSEPH.. A." WALSH and" JAMES F. KENNEDY, citizens of the- United States, residing at Pittsburgh, inthe following is a4 specification.

Our invention relates to improvements inL tie plates for the rails of railway tracks, for the purposefo-f supportingfthe rails on the ties.u V`The inventinis* especially designed to prevent the rails from spreading or varying from their standard gauge location, also to prevent creeping, and to resist the common tendency to lift or move the securing spikes or screws from the ties.

The invention also has in view to provide a tie plate of simple and economical construction, with accompanying durability and eflicient resistance to the usual shocks and strains of traine.

One preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing a portion of rail mounted on our improved tie plate in position on a tie;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing the rails and their plates at each side of the track;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view'in perspective of the bottom plate;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the top plate;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view in detail, showing the lug and socket connection between the tie plate and rail flange; and

Fig. 7 is a similar view in section, showing these parts slightly separated.

The tie plate as a whole comprises a lower or bottom plate 2 and an upper or top plate 3 adapted to lie thereon. Each plate is provided with spike holes 4 and bolt holes 5, of proper shape and location to register with each other when the plates are superimposed, as in Figs. 2 and 3, for engagement with the rail flanges. In such position, spike holes 4c are in proper position for driving the usual spikes to engage the flanges 6 of rail 7 and bolt holes 5 are spaced so as to allow for the driving of lag bolts, screw spikes, tie plate screws, or the like.

Each plate 2 and 3 is provided at each outer side with upstanding integral lugs 8,

the lugsofbottom plate 2 loeingabove` the face'of; the platea distance equal to the thickness ofj-theupper` plate, @as shown. The urpofse of-lsucharrangement is so that when both'ripl-ates l are in position they lugs will equally; embraeethe anges on theA same level-az 'l f uUppe'r-plate; 3. is of the same width as platee .2; Y atj itsv outer portion, but is reduced inqwfidth;at-,its'middle soasto extend inf.

wardlyfbetweenfthe.- lugsr 8 yof, plate` 2. The

latter are provided with inwardlygextending supporting bases 9, upon which the rail flanges rest, flush with the main upper surface of upper plate 3, in normal position, as shown.

The flange engaging lugs 8 overlap and snugly engage the tapering edges of the rail flanges 6 and firmly hold them in place. One or both lugs 8 of each plate is provided `at its innersocket portion with a vertically arranged inwardly extending V-shapedtooth 10 adapted to be forced into a corresponding recess or groove 11 in the edge of the rail flange. Such grooves are cut or notched into the edges of the flanges at opposite sides and in registering position for the teeth 10, prior to assembling in any convenient manner.

The lower` and upper plates being laid on the tie underneath the rail and slightly apart, they are then brought sufficiently close together for partial registering of the spike holes 4 above and below. Thereupon, as the spikes are driven through such holes and into the tie, the plates 2 and 3 will be drawn together. The resulting inward movement of each plate brings the lugs 8 tightly over the flanges, at the same time forcing the interlocking lugs or teeth 10 into tight engagement with the sockets or grooves l1 when the complete tie plate is closely assembled. When the spikes are driven clear in, their heads also engage over the flanges in the usual manner, further securing the rail. Thereupon, the holes 5 being in register, .the lag bolts, Screw spikes or tie plate screws are inserted through them into the tie, so that with the spikes and bolts, etc., the parts are very firmly connected.

Any tendency of the rails to rise or spring up and loosen the spikes is counteracted by the lugs 8, the effect being to impart any such movement directly to the tie in the road bed. Also, any tendency of the rails to gagelnent with the rail flanges at all times,V

using new spikes, if necessary.'

The construction and operation Y of the 5 invention will be readily understoodand' appreciated lfrom the foregoing description by all those skilled in the art. It will be understood that the device be made of steel castings or forgings, without the necessity of expensive finishing or fitting, andrin standard sizes to suit varying weights or shapes of rails, etc.

' Also, that the invention-may be changed'or varied in detail construction, or otherwise,

by the skilled mechanicy within the' scope of the following claim.

What we claim is:

A tie plate for railscoinprising substantially flat top and bottom sections, said top sectionhaving flange engaging lugs at. one edge thereof in the corner portions, the opposite end of the top plate being reduced in width, projections at each corner of the bottom plate at one end thereof of athiclrness equal to the'thiclrness of the first plate, said reduced end; of the top plate fitting between said projections', and a flange engaging lug oneach projection, saidV Vpla-tes having registering spikeholes therein at each end thereof and located between the lugs, said top section only providing the seatlfor a rail whenlaid thereon.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aix our signatures. Y

Jos'EPH A. wALsi-i. JAMES E. KENNEDY. 

